Day 4: Matjiefontein and Sutherland

We headed out to Sutherland today – location of Africa’s main astronomy observatory – in the Great Karoo, Northern Cape. It was a beautiful scenic 4 hour drive. Dave & Al own a backpackers lodge there, aptly named ‘the White House’.

On the way we stopped in Matjiesfontain, where Dave and Al honeymooned. It’s a stunning little town that used to be a British settlement. We posed for a ‘wedding’ photo in the little chapel.

Today is our 3^rd Anniversary (woohooo) and we get the Honeymoon Suite here at the White House (Oooh, la la!). We walked into our room to find champagne on ice, 2 glasses, chocolate on a pillows and fresh flowers in our room. It was such a treat!

We walked through the tiny town of Sutherland, saw a beautiful Dutch Reformed church, and checked out a couple of the little Ko-ops (little stores). I giggled my way through the aisles, recognizing everything from my favorite soap and fruit juice, to the cleaners and crackers I remember from my childhood. I of course purchased a bar of Breeze, my all time favorite soap (to this day I have a bar I purchased 5 years ago in my undies drawer!).

It was a hoot to be so needed by my hubby. Sutherland is a strictly Afrikaans town, so Joe would be buying something at the till…the cashier would ask him something, or give him a total…and you’d hear this helpless, “uuh, hoooo-ney?!?”. It was adorable. Joe’s Afrikaans is steadily improving. He can almost say, “Sorry, I can’t speak Afrikaans”.

Joe got to experience an authentic South African Potjie this evening. Dave is quite the chef!! It was wonderful. We enjoyed a lovely, romantic dinner…with Dave, Al and Vic (Dave older brother). It was delightful!